Telephonic instrument.



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G. R. PREUSSE.

TELEPHONIG INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION IILB'D 110v.1a,1912.

Patented Nov. 24. 1914.

2 SHEEISSHEET 1.

THE NORRQS PET'ERS C0,, PHOTO-(THO WASHINGTON. D. C

G. R. PREUSSE.

TBLEPHONIG INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1912 1 1 1 8,230. Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

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G WITNESSES. I l/VVENTOR THE NORRIE #ETER: LU PHOIU-LITHO WASHING-FUN.D, C A

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUNTHER R. PREUSSE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,T0 DETECTA PHONE COMPANY OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TELEPHONIC INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Application filed November 18, 1912. Serial No. 732,183.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUNTHER R. Pnnussn, a subject of the Emperor ofGermany, (having declared his intentions of becoming a citizen of theUnited States,) and residing at the borough of the Bronx, city of NewYork, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement inTelephonic Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates generally to telephonic instruments, withthe object, in the main, to provide in a single instrument for arelatively loud voiced annunciatioh or a relatively low toned orwhispering annunciation at the choice or control of the person receivingthe message.

In a practical embodiment of the invention, a suitable structure, say ofbox-like, rectangular or other form and adapted to rest on a desk, tableor other support and in itself either portable or stationary as desired,contains and supports all of the in strumentalities required to obtaineither a loud voiced or a low toned annunciation, and also preferablysupports and carries the transmitter, which, however, may or may notform an integral part of the" instrument. It also, preferably, providesfor the reception, at will, at the main receiver or station ofconversation occurring Within transmission distance of the other orsub-station without the knowledge of the person or persons talking atthe latter station.

The improvements embrace two receivers which when both are in circuitwith the transmitter at the other station receive the message andannounce it in a relatively loud tone and audible at some distance fromthe instrument. One of the receivers, however, is arranged to beportable so that it may be applied to the ear of the receiving person,in which case, by the act of removing the portable receiver, itscompanion receiver is out out of circuit and the message is announcedonly by the portable receiver in a low tone or whisper. The improvementsalso embrace a movable contact at the main receiver or station andproper electrical connections with the other or sub-station toapparently cut out the latter station yet leave the receiver orreceivers at the main station still in circuit with the transmitter atthe sub-station.

The transmitter may be connected to an extensible support so that thetransmitted conversation may be either loud voiced or low tonedaccording as the speaker may arrange the transmitter away from or closeto his mouth. lVith this general understanding of the improvements, adetailed description thereof will follow in connection with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment thereof;in which drawlngs:

Figure 1, represents a plan view; Fig. 2, a front view; Fig. 3, a sideview; Fig. 4, a detail view; Figs. 5 and 6, views of the electricalcircuits.

Referring to said drawings, a suitable support, such as the box-likestructure A, carries two telephonic receivers B, C, one of which, C, isremovable and capable of being applied to the ear of the attendant.These telephonic receivers are of any suitable or ordinary structurecapable when together in circuit with the transmitter at the otherstation of delivering the message in a comparatively loud tone, that isto say without the attendant needing to apply the same to his ears, yetwhen one of the receivers is applied to the ear, its companion receiveris cut out of circuit, and the message is received in a low tone.

The transmitter D, is carried by an extensible support E, which in thisinstance and in the preferred construction consists of a form oflazy-tongs connected at one end to a rod e, carried by the box-likestructure A. and the other end connected to the rear of the transmitter.The lazv-tongs form is preferred because it lends itself to theconvenient taking up and letting off of the electrical connectionsextending to the transmitter. This is accomplished by pro viding a.plurality of holders or buttons 7, at the top and bottom of alternatearms of the lazy-tongs, so that in anv position of the transmitter,whether in its folded condition or in its extended condition theelectric connection automatically accommodates itself to the position ofthe transmitter.

The supporting end of the lazy-tongs is connected to an arm 9 looselymounted on the rod 6 so that it may swing thereon, and rests on anadjustable collar h so that its height may be regulated.

The two receivers B, C, are mounted in the structure A, behind twoflared openings 1', j, to properly deliver the sound. The re ('(ll'Ulit, is permanently mounted in the structure; while the removablereceiver (l, is preferably pi-ovided with a stem or handle c, by whichsaid receiver may be conveniently handled, that is to say, placed inposition in and removed from the structure A, with out disturbing theattached .electrical connections. To properly hold this removablereceiver G, the structure A is formed with a recess or pocket F,extending down from its top behind the flared opening j, and when insuch recess presses and holds a suitable spring contact is in electricalcontact with a terminal Z, in electrical connection with one of theterminals of the fixed or permanent receiver B. A spring m, in therecess F, may also be provided to bear against the back of the removablereceiver C, to steady and hold it in 1proper position in the recess. Therear 0 the structure A, preferably carries a binding post n, throughwhich the several electrical connectionspass.

The top of the structure A, supports a signaling button 0, for signalingthe other instrument through suitable electric connections of commonform and arrangement. Said structure is also provided with a suitableswitch 79, arranged in connection with terminal buttons g, according tothe number of instruments capable of being connected. While severalbuttons 9, are shown, only one is needed in the present example of theinvention, 2'. 6., one button (,7, at the main receiver or stationr andone at the sub-station. Another button 9, the off button, is alsoprovided at each station. The arrangement of circuits is such that whenthe erson at one of the instrumentsthe main station or sub-station,-desires to communicate with the other, the usual signaling button 0, isoperated, where upon the switch p, will be moved from the off button 9',on to the button g, thereby placing the two instruments in electricalcommunication. The conversation may then proceed.

In order to enable the person at main receiver or station to overhearconversation that may take place at the other or substation, the switchp, at the main station, is arranged to close what may be termed aconcealed circuit with the other or sub-station while said switch is onthe off but ton g, at said main station and the switch at thesub-station is also on the oil button. Thus the lower end of the switchpivot r,

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents,

carries another arm a, at a slightly different angular radius to. thatof the switch 7.", which arm .9 has an end properly insulated from theswitch which makes metallic connection between two contacts If, onecontact electrically connected to one of the terminals of the receiverB, at the main station and the other with the oil button .9, at thesub-station; with the result that conversation at the sub-station willbe conveyed. by its transmitter to the receivers B, C, at the other ormain station.

The arrangement of electrical circuits is fully disclosed in the diagramshown in the drawings, two stat ons only being shown.

While I have shown a complete structure capable of practically carryingout the improvements, it is obvious that its parts are susceptible ofmodifications within theprovince of those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telephonic instrument, a suitable holder having two recesses, areceiver permanently mounted in one recess and a removable receiver inthe other recess, the two receivers being normally connected in panallel and means whereby upon the removal of the removable receiver fromits recess the other receiver is cut out of circuit.

2. In, a telephonic instrument, a suitable holder or box having tworecesses therein and a flared opening from each recess, a receiverpermanently mounted in one of the recesses, a portable receiver mountedin the other recess, the two receivers being normally connected inparallel and a switch between the two receivers whereby upon the removalof the portable receiver it only remains in circuit with thetransmitter.

3. In a telephonic instrument, a suitable holder, two receiverssupported thereby and. normally connected in parallel with a distanttransmitter, means whereby upon the removal of one of the receivers fromthe holder the other receiver is cut out of circuit, a switch interposedin the circuit between the distant transmitter and said receivers formaking and breaking said circuit, and another circuit made by saidswitch when the other circuit is broken, whereby conversation occurringat one station may be heard at the other.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUNTHER n. PREUSSE.

Witnesses.

Gno. H. GRAHAM, JACOB W. OGDEN.

Washington, 11.0.

